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_protoReality
The North Atlanta Newton Users Group Newsletter


Volume 1, Number 8
October 30th, 1994




Notices
Apple, the Apple Logo and Newton are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.,
registered in the United States and other countries.  MessagePad is a
trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.  All other products mentioned herein are
copyrighted/ trademarked by their owners.

The editor and the NANUG (The North Atlanta Newton Users Group) staff are
responsible for the opinions expressed in this newsletter, unless specifically
by-lined.

NANUG cannot be held responsible for any damages that occur due to use or
misuse of the information contained in this newsletter.  It must be
distributed free of charge, and the original contents remain intact.  Portions
may be reprinted, quoted, or adapted as long as proper credit is noted.
Individual portions may bear the copyright of their original authors, who
should be contacted directly.  All such copyrighted material appears in this
newsletter with permission of the original author.




Contents

How to Contact NANUG
NANUG Membership Application Form
Introduction
NANUG Overview
Minutes of the October Meeting
An Interview with Andre Meyer
Views and Reviews
    Graffiti for the Newton #1
    Graffiti for the Newton #2
    Action Names and Agenda
    XPack
    Othello Times Two
    The Barrier
    Message Manager
    ScrollEx 2.7
Tips, Hints, and Secrets
NUG News
Want Ads, Classified, and Cork Board
NANUG Member Bios




Contact Information

For more information about NANUG, meeting times, or newsletter submission
guidelines, please write:

Mark Underwood
President
The North Atlanta Newton Users Group
3381 Claire Circle
Marietta, Georgia  30066
USA

or E-mail:

InterNet:        [e-mail]
AppleLink:        EMA.COMPSV
NewtMail:        MarkU
eWorld:        MarkU




NANUG Membership Application Form

On the next page is a customized membership application to join NANUG.  There
is currently no membership fee.

The benefits of joining, as opposed to just reading the newsletter?  Well, you
get on our exclusive mailing list ;-) and can take advantage of our user group
discounts on hardware and software (soon to be published).  Even better is the
general idea of belonging, don’t you think?  ;-)

You can also join by obtaining our membership package from our ftp site,
ftp.amug.org (thanks to our best friends at the Arizona Macintosh Users
Group!).  After logging in anonymously, change directory down to:

/pub/newton/nanug

The sub-directory “membership” contains a copy of the membership card and
instructions on how to join us.



NANUG Membership Application Form

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Country:

Phone:

Fax:

NewtMail:

E-mail address:

You can:

• Print this page and mail it to:

Mark Underwood
NANUG Membership
3381 Claire Circle
Marietta, GA 30066
USA

• E-mail your personal information to “[e-mail]” with a subject of
“NANUG Membership”



From the Orthogonal Office

Mark Underwood

One Year Later, NANUG Style

This month, the North Atlanta Newton Users Group turns one years old.

We’ve done a lot in the space of a year:

From five members to 550

From local meetings huddled in a CompUSA training center, to the CNN Center,
as well as electronic meetings on eWorld, America On-Line, and the InterNet

From a readership of 30 to 3,000

From passing around diskettes to ftp sites

From hand-written notes to text, MS Word, Newton Book, and WWW versions

It isn’t that we’ve had an easy time of it, either.  We fended off a couple of
take-overs, struggled with resouces, been barraged by angry Psion fans, and
even survived a summer during which it seemed like nothing was happeneing in
either the NANUG or Newton areas.

But we’re still here.  And thanks to the immense number of members, friends,
vendors, and other kind folks, we’ve become something of a sensation.

And we’ve stayed free of charge.

If you’re a Newton owner, and you’re not an NANUG member, I only have one
thing to ask:  Why not?




A NANUG Overview

Mark Underwood

Founded in October of 1993, NANUG was created with these ideas in mind:

• To provide timely and correct information about the Newton and all of its
accessories, software packages, and other Newton-related products

• To assist new and experienced Newton users in getting the most out of their
purchase

• To provide (hopefully) an un-biased forum for the exchange of user tips,
hints, and suggestions

• To provide free or low-cost resources for small to medium Newton development
projects

There is currently no membership fee to join NANUG.  Meetings are normally
held the second Tuesday of the month.  We also hold “on-line” conferences from
time to time to allow our remote members to participate directly.

_protoReality, our newsletter, is published one a month (normally during the
third week of the month) in three formats:  a Newton Book Reader package, a
“binary enhanced” text document, and a “plain” text document.  Each format
strives to convey as much information as possible within the constraints of
the media.  The “plain” text version, for example, is posted to InterNet,
while the “binary” and “book reader” formats are posted to on-line forums and
ftp sites that support binary up/down loads (AppleLink, CompuServe, America
On-Line, etc.).

NANUG also has a shared InterNet ftp site, ftp.amug.org, where we post all of
our files--including membership materials and “best of” selections.  The site
supports anonymous log in, and is located in the directory:

/pub/newton/nanug




Minutes of the October Meetings

Local Meeting

At the last minute before driving down to CNN, Palm Computing slipped a beta
copy of Graffiti for the Newton into my hands.  Instead of the normal meeting,
I decided that we would perform a mass “beta test” of this much-anticipated
application for the Newton.  Eagerly, the other locals attending that night
connected up to my PowerBook 170, and after an installing parade, the tests
were on!

By and large, the testing was a success.  I’ll refrain from going into the
details here--there are two reviews of the product in this issue:  one done by
one of our local members, and another one done by Scott Leapman, a remote
NANUG member in Florida, and the president of SFNUG.  As an example of the
process, I’ve reproduced Lee Leonard’s notes on his testing below:

Mark,

Here’s what I’ve found so far in Graffiti:

Bug:  Blinking insertion point and selection at same time is ambiguous.

Write a word in Notepad, select the word by holding & dragging,  ‘uppercase’
the first letter with an up stroke on first character. Note that the word is
selected and the insertion point is blinking after the first letter of the
word.  What is going to happen when I write my a character?  Will it be
inserted after the insertion  point?  Will it replace the selection? <--- the
ambiguity.  When I try it, the whole word get replaced.

I recommend losing the insertion point.  [As I was writing this up  I decided
to test what happens when the keyboard is up instead of  Graffiti.  It does
the same thing.  This is a Newton bug.  I’m  passing it along anyway because
they might get blamed for it.]

Bug:  Opening and closing real keyboard in notepad loses insertion point.

As you write someone’s email address in Notepad forget what the  scribble is
for an ‘@’, fumble around for card, punt, bring  up Newton’s keyboard, type an
‘@’, close keyboard.  Note that the insertion point is now hidden.  It won’t
reveal itself until you  scrink and then resume Graffiti.

Enhancement:  Instead of error complaining about no insertion point, why not
spoof a tap in the topmost edit field of a the topmost window?

Here’s the suggestion: scan the child views of the topmost view for  the
things that have the proper entry viewFlags.  If you find a  single suitable
view, spoof a tap in the view to get an insertion  point.  If you find
multiple matches, it is a judgement call whether  you should spoof a tap in
the topmost view or not.  If nothing  matches, or if you’re in an application
like Dates, then bring up  the error message.

Overall, I really like this product.  It solves my chief concern about the
Newton - reliable handwriting recognition.  After a week of working with
Graffiti, I can now concentrate on _what_ I’m writing and not _how_ I’m
writing.  That is something I was never able to achieve in the six  months
that I’ve had my Newton.  I can take notes in real time, without looking at
the MessagePad.

My only wish is that Graffiti could be even better integrated with the Newton
system.  I would like to add the Graffiti strokes to my normal handwriting
preferences, so that I could use the same strokes without the Griffiti
application floating around.  I would also like to replace the default key-
board with Graffiti’s pseudo-keyboard.  It is still convenient for writing
without looking at the MessagePad, similar to touch typing.  It is a shame to
have to use two writing systems on the same device.

That’s it for now.  I send on more feedback as it turns up.

We had so much fun, and learned enough about Graffiti, that we could pass
these and other observations back to Palm for their consideration.  We’re
probably not the firt group to do this sort of thing, but I’d like to think
so!  (And yes, I had our testers remove the app before leaving the meeting, so
as to stay legal.)


The next scheduled local meeting will be on November 8th, 1994.

Details on locations and times of all local and “remote” meetings will we
posted to all NANUG locations and sent via e-mail to members.




An Interview with Andre Meyer


Andre has been another long-term NANUG member.  Earlier this month, he sent me
a copy of his massive work on the subject of  Pen Computing.  I read it from
start to finish in a single sitting, and was so impressed that I knew we had
to get the word out about it ASAP!

This isn’t one of our normal, interviews.  It’s actually a sort of monograph
about what Andre’s been doing for the last few years, and his conclusions
about the world of pen computing.  But we didn’t have space to print the
entire report, so I got permission from him to print his “overview” of the
work.

PEN COMPUTING

The work that I wrote at the MultiMedia Laboratory of the University of Zurich
covers all aspects of mobile and pen-based computing as I perceive it.  The
following excerpt gives you a overview of what I am interested in and would
like to discuss in order to advance the state of Pen Computing in research as
well as applied to real-world problems.

If you would like to receive a copy of this work, please let me know.  I am
interested in feedback.

After this work, I am developing software for CS Life (life insurance company
of Credit Suisse) based on the Newton platform in order to get the real-world
feeling.  I will write a report on that development of the same volume as the
present one. This will be done in conjunction with the MML.

So far, best wishes and thanks for your interest.
    -Andre Meyer

PEN COMPUTING
A Technology Overview and a Vision

Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword.
-Baron Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu, 1838

Abstract
This work gives an overview of a new technology that is attracting growing
interest in public as well as in the computer industry itself.  The visible
difference from other technologies is in the use of a pen or pencil as the
primary means of interaction between a user and a machine, picking up the
familiar pen and paper interface metaphor.  From this follows a set of
consequences that will be analyzed and put into context with other emerging
technologies and visions.  Starting with a short historical background and the
technical advances that begin making Pen Computing a reality, the new
paradigms created by Pen Computing will be explained and discussed.
Handwriting recognition, mobility and global information access are other
central topics.  This is followed by a categorization and an overview of
current and future systems using pens as their primary user interface
component.

Keywords pen-based, stylus, displays, digitizers, low-power processors,
PCMCIA, handwriting recognition, unistrokes, Jot, mobile computing, ubiquitous
computing, wireless communications, object-oriented dynamic languages (OODL),
object-oriented prototype-based languages (OOPL), tools, assistants, agents,
PenPoint, Newton, General Magic

Table of Contents
1  Introduction
2  History
    2.1  Writing
    2.2  History of Pen Computing
3  Hardware
    3.1  Displays
    3.2  Digitizers
    3.3  Processors
    3.4  Batteries
    3.5  Personal Computer Cards
    3.6  Conclusions
4  Handwriting Recognition
    4.1  Optical Character Recognition
    vs.  Handwriting Recognition
    4.2  User Interface Aspects
    4.3  Implementation Approaches
    4.4  Unistrokes
    4.5  Storing Jotted Notes
    4.6  Conclusions
5  Mobility
    5.1  Connection to Stationary Systems
    5.2  Pagers
    5.3  Digital European Cordless
    Telecommunication
    5.4  Telepoint
    5.5  Cellular Communication
    5.6  Global Positioning System
    5.7  Distributed Processing &
    Information Access
    5.8  Conclusions
6  Paradigms
    6.1  User Interface
    6.2  Programming
    6.3  Categories
    6.4  Conclusions
7  Current Systems and Products
    7.1  Microsoft Windows for Pen
    Computing
    7.2  GO PenPoint
    7.3  Apple Newton
    7.4  General Magic
    7.5  Amstrad PenPad
    7.6  GeoWorks GEOS
    7.7  Other systems
8  The Worldwide Real Virtuality
9  Author's Final Word
10  References

Synopsis

Chapter 1    Introduction
Pen Computing lives both in our best-known real world environment and in a
world of vision.  The idea is simple.  Use your primary and best developed
human skill-writing by hand on a sheet of paper.  Man would not be able to
exist without language and writing.  Sharing written and drawn information is
the most important means of cultural exchange.  And today we are even better
at exchanging information-we use computers.  But computers do not understand
the most simple strokes of our beloved gestures.  Computers are actual
illiterates when it comes to recognizing hand-drawn writing.  During the time
of evolving computer technology many different means for user input have been
invented: keyboards, mice, trackballs, lightpens, etc., but none of these has
really fitted the human way of communicating thoughts and ideas.  This is
where the Vision-referred to in the subtitle of this work-comes in: computers
that are able to sense our drawings and interpret our handwriting would be a
lot easier to use and much more useful than the currently known input devices.
The ease of information manipulation would result in an intensified
concentration on contents, with the user being freed from technical
restrictions.  In practical terms, a pen-based computer consists only of a
flat display which records and displays the traces from a user's moving pen.
The pen replaces a keyboard and other input devices.  Were it not for the
additional output capabilities, e.g.  video and sound, bystanders would not
necessarily recognize this as a machine but as a paper notebook.  The computer
is also able to recognize handwritten text, i.e.  it can convert scribbles to
printed text.  Pen-based computers exist in various sizes and for a multitude
of application classes.  The following chapters will provide more detail on
the necessary technical components and on the consequences in respect to
human-machine interaction paradigms.

Chapter 2    History
This chapter starts with some fundamental thoughts about the role of language
and writing and outlines the developments of languages and writing tools.
Shortly, a history of Pen Computing is presented.

Chapter 3    Hardware
In this chapter, all the components that are necessary to build a pen-based
computer are presented and discussed: displays, digitizers, processors,
batteries, and expansion cards.  The latter two are especially important for
mobile pen-based systems.

Chapter 4    Handwriting
Recognition Handwriting recognition is discussed mainly from the user
interface perspective.  The algorithms used for recognizing handwritten
scribbles as text are complex.  The most important methods are introduced very
shortly.  A different approach that is aimed at high recognition rates at the
cost of using a simplified character set (unistrokes) is illustrated, as well
as a standard for storing hand-drawn input (Jot).

Chapter 5    Mobility
Mobile systems are an important application area for pen-based systems because
they can be used at almost any place.  This is in contrast to keyboard-based
systems.  This chapter gives an overview of various wireless communications
systems that are currently used or being developed.  The difficulties that
arise from accessing data that are highly distributed as a result of mobility
are also discussed.

Chapter 6    Paradigms
Pen Computing introduces new paradigms for human-machine interaction.  First,
the paradigms for designing the user interface are presented, followed by a
round-up of programming paradigms.  Finally, a categorization of hardware and
software architectures is outlined.

Chapter 7    Current Systems and Products
This chapter presents the most interesting pen-based systems that are
currently available.  Compared to the other chapters, they can be taken as a
measure for the state of the art in pen-based technology.

Chapter 8    The Worldwide Real Virtuality
All things put together, this chapter builds the climax of this work by
reasoning about the consequences that can be followed from integrating the
information of the previous chapters.  The Vision referred to in the subtitle
of this work is enlightened here.

Andre Meyer - [e-mail]
MultiMedia Laboratory
Dept.  of Computer Science
University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse
Zurich Irchel - Switzerland



Views and Reviews


Graffiti for the Newton - Review #1

Scott Leapman

There has been a lot of discussion recently about a new tool from Palm
Computing called Graffiti.  It is basically a pop-up window that can be used
as an alternative to the virtual keyboard for text input.  I have been using
Graffiti version beta 0.051 on my Newton MessagePad 100 for almost two weeks,
and have found it to be worthy alternative to the pop-up keyboard.  I
currently have it installed on my 2MB RAM card, and have experienced no
problems at all with it interfering with any application or function in my
Newton.  It seems to peacefully co-exist with shareware packages as well as
all the built-in applications. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that it’s
an application that, when running, grabs some memory for itself.  This can
cause enough overhead problems in a MP100 to not allow other programs to run
well at the same time.  I have not found any more “Out of Memory-Restart?”
errors than when not running Graffiti, but YMMV (your mileage may vary). Word
is from Palm Computing that Graffiti only consumes 100 bytes of overhead when
minimized.

Overview of Graffiti

Graffiti is not handwriting recognition in its purest form.  It IS a method by
which gestures or pen strokes are recognized.  Palm Computing claims 100%
recognition accuracy, and this is definitely attainable when following the
simple rules.  Every printable character has been simplified to a single pen
stroke.  You simply draw the pen stroke that corresponds to the character you
want, and it’s correctly recognized.  Most of the Graffiti strokes are very
similar to the letter that it represents.  Some are close but different enough
to cause a bit of confusion to the novice Graffiti User.  Basically, the user
needs to accommodate Graffiti more than the other way around; it doesn’t
attempt to learn the way you write.

Parts is Parts, or What Graffiti Comes With

Graffiti comes with four packages for your Newton and a Quick Reference Card.
The packages are the main Graffiti application, a separate help file, the
Shortcuts application, and a stand-alone tutorial.  The main Graffiti
application is all that is required, but the other three files can be very
helpful.

A separate laminated Quick Reference Card is included that shows all the
strokes for every character.  While the basic character set (a-z, 0-9, and
basic punctuation) is rather easy to remember, Graffiti can also recognize and
print many special characters including accented letters.  The front of the QR
Card shows all the basics, while the back of the card details the less-
frequently used characters.

The main Graffiti app takes up about 87k of storage space, so MP100 owners
will probably need a RAM card.  This also means that Graffiti won’t be
available when using any other PCMCIA card, but that should be acceptable
under most circumstances.

The window that pops up is about the same height as the pop-up keyboard, and
about 2/3 of the screen width wide.  There are buttons that toggle caps lock
and number lock, as well as those nifty direction arrows that the virtual
keyboard also has.  The information button is always there, but is grayed out
unless the help module is also installed.  A button to minimize the Graffiti
window is always available but you have to open the “Extra” button for the
command to close Graffiti (and free up some memory).

There are two forms in which the Graffiti window can be displayed; the minimal
(standard) form, and one called the Graffiti Scratchpad which is nearly the
size of the whole Newton screen.  The Scratchpad screen can be used as a
clipboard to hold more than a single selected item.  I haven’t used it much
yet, but it seems rather helpful- especially if you want to move several bits
of data from one place to another.  When the Scratchpad version is displayed,
the stroke entry area is on the bottom of the window.  In the “Extra” button
is a command that turn “left mode” on which moves the stroke input area to the
top of the Scratchpad window instead.

Both forms of the Graffiti window have a clear space about 1 inch on a side
which is where all Graffiti strokes are to be drawn. Graffiti works much like
the built-in virtual keyboard; you tap where you want to begin text insertion
(to place the cursor) and begin writing.  Each stroke (letter) is drawn in the
blank area on the Graffiti pop-up, and is recognized as soon as you lift the
stylus up. It’s a bit disconcerting at first to write all your strokes in the
same space (one on top of the other) but Graffiti keeps up pretty well,
clearing the space as it recognizes each stroke.

The help file describes a bit of information about Graffiti itself, as well as
the full character/stroke mapping chart that is also on the QR Card.  I
removed this file from my Newton to free up some memory as I have already
memorized all the basics.  New Graffiti users may want to keep this file on
their Newton for a few weeks until they get used to some of the less obvious
mappings like “K” and “T”.

The Shortcuts application allows the user to specify blocks of text that are
represented by a few pen strokes.  For example, I can assign the text “Call
Mom” to “cm” so that when I do the shortcut gesture on the Graffiti window and
write “cm”, “Call Mom” is entered at the text insertion point.  As I
previously mentioned, this module is optional but can be quite a time-saver.
The Shortcuts editor is very intuitive and works well too.

The Graffiti Tutorial is a free-standing application that helps the novice
user learn the stroke mapping that Graffiti uses to recognize characters.  It
is widely available on most online services such as AOL and from Palm
Computing directly.  This application works well for training the user in how
to effectively use Graffiti.  Keep in mind that the tutorial’s practice window
is not a fully-functional version of Graffiti in that not all strokes are
recognized in all sections of the tutorial.  I felt rather confident using
Graffiti after going through the whole tutorial.

Using Graffiti

I’ve been forcing myself to use Graffiti rather than Newton’s built-in
handwriting recognition (HWR) so that I could evaluate it.  I was skeptical at
first, but Graffiti does work!  I’m still having a bit of trouble with some of
the stroke/letter mappings such as “T” which is drawn as a backwards, upside-
down “L”, but overall it’s fast and easy to learn.  Especially good is the
punctuation recognition.  I’ve always had a hard time with Newton’s ability to
read my “?” and “,”, but Graffiti gets it right every time.

Graffiti attains it’s high accuracy by minimizing the possibilities to small
set.  When drawing letters, there are only 26 possibilities plus a few
“shifting” gestures like caps-lock, num-lock, alt, and punctuation.  For
normal letters, just draw the stroke.  For numbers, draw the num-lock gesture,
then the stroke.  For punctuation, tap the stroke-entry area and draw the
punctuation stroke.  For caps, draw an upward vertical line.  For caps-lock,
do the caps stroke twice.  By using a small gesture set, accuracy increases.

Navigation with Graffiti is easy too.  Draw a dash from left to right and you
add a space, from right to left and you get a backspace.  A slash from top to
bottom does a new line like pressing the “return” arrow on the keyboard.  You
can also tap where you want the insertion point to go just like with the pop-
up keyboard, or use the arrow buttons on the Graffiti window.

The Graffiti window is fully draggable as is the minimized button, so it
rarely covers up something vital.  In practice, I’ve found Graffiti more
useful in the Notepad than in text entry fields since I can usually get good
HWR of my cursive writing in them.  For example, entering a phone number in
the names application works well for me, so I don’t need the virtual keyboard.
My rule-of-thumb is that Graffiti is very useful in the Notepad and wherever
you find yourself using the virtual keyboard.  Of course you can use it
anywhere you write, too.

Bottom Line

Graffiti works.  It’s easy to learn.  It won’t replace the built-in HWR on my
Newton for everything, but it will certainly replace the pop-up keyboard.  I
tried writing a long letter in the Notepad with it and it worked just fine.
Consider it a very attractive alternate text-entry method.  If you just can’t
get your Newton to read your handwriting, then Graffiti will be even more
useful to you.




Graffiti for the Newton - Review #2

Robert Prince

These are some of the problems (and some suggestions) I have with Graffiti:

1.    The cursor disappears when you try to write on the screen after the
keyboard has been brought up.
2.    In names, the keyboard comes up in zip code.
3.    Needs to have a module that allows formatting of notes -. hanging
indents, etc.
4.    Needs to have a partial scroll for editing or writing notes. this would
be particularly useful for drawing diagrams. What I mean here is a way to
scroll a long note only several lines at a time instead of a whole page at a
time.
5.    Needs to have an (go to) “end of line” and “end of paragraph” button for
when you are finished editing text.
6.    The “E” drawing needs to be easier to draw, like maybe a lower case “e”.
7.    There definitely needs to be a way to edit and write with the notepad.
This should include numbers “3” and “4” above, as well as a simple way of
formatting the note (a simple word processor). Now that it is so easy to write
in the Newton, I want a way to “format” my document. I know Tapworks does
this, or something like it, but I think it would be nice to have it all built-
in (as an option) with Graffiti.

Now, here is my review:


Overall, I really love this program. I am now able to write long stories and
notes with the Newton (for example, this review!) with very little error. What
little errors occur are easily noticed and corrected, unlike with the Newton's
built-in recognition.

The beta copy I used to write this review was slightly too slow to achieve the
claimed 30 words per minute. However, it was much faster than what I could
achieve with the regular recognition (I must admit here that I have incredibly
poor handwriting and that the best I have ever been able to accomplish is 80 -
85%. This has always hampered my enthusiasm for the Newton).

I have heard people on the internet complain about having to learn a new
alphabet, but I haven't had any trouble adapting to it so far. In fact, after
only 2 hours of use, I am already moving too fast for it to keep up with me.
The new alphabet is as close to a normal printed alphabet as is possible with
the uni-stroke technology.

 One of the beautiful things about it is that you write in a little box that
you can position anywhere on the screen. This not only allows you to keep the
box positioned so that you can always see the text that you are writing, but
it also allows you to write very fast and sloppy! You don’t have to worry
about your handwriting being legible, so you can look up and write at the same
time. For this very reason alone, I am able to write faster than I can with a
notepad (the paper kind!).

In short, Graffiti is without a doubt the coolest software to come out yet for
the Newton. It is still just a bit too slow, but it is a godsend to those of
us who possess horrible handwriting. If you think that the Newton is not doing
for you what you expected because of disappointing handwriting recognition,
then you must (IMHO) try Graffiti!



Action Names and Agenda

Eric Jacobsen

While the Newton has become a faithful companion to me for six months now, I
have found some of its limitations frustrating.  I still have not gotten used
to the Newton’s grudgingly slow To Do function.  I get tired of switching back
and forth from Calendar to To Do list and scrolling up and down through the
Calendar to find my day’s appointments.  The Names file is indispensable to
me, but I have always yearned for additional fields and notes.  For all the
promise of the Newton (and the Apple logo on the front of it), I didn’t yet
feel I had the “power to be my best.”

A few weeks ago, I discovered a package by iambic Software called Action Names
& Agenda (AN&A) that has given my Newton many of the tools I need to better
manage my time in relation to my 1,200 clients.

Contact Management

The names, addresses, and phone numbers found in the Names file are essential
to any Newton user, but AN&A gives the added functionality of 18 additional
user-defined fields and unlimited, scrollable notes.  A pop-up menu can be
added for each user field that will enter frequently used descriptions,
allowing data entry without writing.  DataLink software is included that
allows the transfer of information to and from a desktop computer (Windows or
Mac) and the user-defined fields.

While in the Names file, many powerful features can be accessed by tapping the
added “N&A” button on the bottom of the screen.  Appointments, phone calls,
and to do’s can be scheduled without exiting the Names file.  In fact, it can
often be done with only a few taps, requiring no handwriting.  Tap on the
time, date, and type of activity, and the rest is entered for you.  You are
also able to display a history of phone calls made, attempted, or received
with that contact.

It is important to note that all activities scheduled can be linked to
contacts in the Names file.  AN&A bridges the gap between the Names and Dates
functions of the Newton, giving the user a more integrated approach to
activities and the people associated with them.

Scheduling

AN&A’s scheduling functions are centered around three types of activities:
meetings, phone calls, and to do’s.  These activities can be scheduled from
the Names, Dates, or Notepad files by tapping the N&A button at the bottom of
each screen.  Each activity can be filed into folders, allowing you to track
separate activities by category or bring them all together by choosing “All
Activities” at the top of the daily agenda screen (described later).

Those who developed AN&A at iambic Software appeared to make a great effort to
allow the user to schedule activities without writing.  Phone calls attempted,
received, or completed can be logged with only a couple of taps.  Meeting and
to do’s can be scheduled by tapping the time and date.  If you are outside the
Names file you can write the first or last name of the contact and AN&A will
look it up for you in the Names file and retrieve any relevant information
(phone number(s), etc.).

Bringing It All Together

The real power of AN&A is in its daily agenda.

This is the heart of the package that brings all of your phone calls,
meetings, and to do’s together into one view.  It shows you a prioritized,
scrollable list of each, along with the contact name associated with each
activity.  This is a master action list that allows you to view your
activities by category or all together.  It also allows you to customize the
size of each of the three sections, to adapt to each day’s demands.

Compared to the Newton’s built-in To Do function, AN&A is very fast.  When
checking off a completed task, AN&A quickly drops that item to the bottom of
your list and sorts the remaining items.  Since using AN&A, I never returned
to the Newton’s built-in To Do function.

Some of the current drawbacks of AN&A would include its inability to offer an
index view of all your upcoming activities.  Any meetings or to do’s can be
viewed in the Dates’ index, of course, but no index is available from within
AN&A’s daily agenda.  It does not display birthdays or daily notes from the
Dates function in AN&A’s daily agenda (I already missed someone’s birthday
because of this).  I have run into relatively few instances where I had to
restart my Newton, not knowing for sure what I had done (although you probably
don’t need to purchase AN&A to get your Newton to do that!).

Now that I have purchased AN&A, my Newton has taken a big leap forward from
being a fancy scheduling device and address book to becoming a vital tool for
productivity.

Action Names & Agenda is available from:
iambic Software
P.O. Box 2338
Santa Clara, CA  95055-2338
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]



XPACK

Jonathan Brown

The XPACK is a combination battery and case for your Newton.  One of the
greatest frustrations I've had in the year plus I've had my Newt is the
battery life.  If this thing is supposed to be useful it should last longer
than 20-30 minutes of hard use - or else why have the note function?  In order
to compensate for the deficiency of the current battery I found myself taking
the charger to meetings and looking for an available plug.

Along comes the XPACK produced by Battery Technology, Inc. (5700 Bandiin Blvd,
Commerce, California 213 728 7874 FAX [phone]).  For about $100 you get a
very handy case to hold your Newt, a longer life battery, and a charger.

The case is about the size of a daytimer and has room for all you need to keep
in it - several slots for PCMCIA cards, a place to put credit cards or
business cards, even space for your passport (as I found in a recent business
trip out of the country).

In the several weeks that I have had XPACK I have found that a full charge
lasts me several days of normal use.  Certainly, I am no longer doing battery
changes in the middle of meetings.

There are a couple of things to dislike about the XPACK.  First, the
manual(which is one folded page) is a bit inadequate.  Second, the charger
does not seem to be the type that does a "smart" charge - i.e. it will prevent
shadowing (only charging you half way).  The manual recommends only to charge
the battery when it is completely down. The charger should also have a
charging indicator(like my cellular phone).  By the way the case even has a
handy space for my phone.

The Bottom Line: For a hundred bucks this adds a lot of utility to my Newt.




Othello Times Two

Jonathan Brown

For established Mac users Othello is one game of choice.  When the 128K mac
first came out there were several excellent shareware versions of the game.
The trick to Othello is to capture more squares than your opponent.  You do
that by getting one of your pieces on either end of one or more of your
opponent's pieces.  The game is played on a board like a checkerboard except
all spaces are open for moves.  A good indicator of the sophistication of the
program is how easliy the computer will let you grab the space two spaces from
the corner.  The easier you can capture those four spaces, the easier the
game.

Two new shareware versions of the game have shown up on the services like
America Online and EWorld.  The first is Desdamona 1.0 (Pirate Dog Software,
Rusty Greer ([e-mail]) and Mike Reed ([e-mail]) - the cost is
$10 if you like it and $5 if you do not but continue to play it. (Checks to
Elizabeth "Pokie" Greer, 1103 Stanford Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306).  The grid
for this version is 64 (8X8).  There are two levels.  It is a pretty fun
version - although it is not tough to beat.  As games go for the Newt - this
one should be a keeper.

(After I finished the review of Desdemona I found that the crafty little
devils at Pirate Dog had issued a new and mightly imporved version of the
program.

The following are comments about version 1.6

Version 1.6 of Desdamona satisfies many of the earlier concerns about the
program.  It is both faster and smarter.  It still is offered for only $10 and
$5 if you don’t like it.  The assumptions in the program allow for some
changes in logic that make the program more challenging.  On the whole this is
one of the best deals in shareware games for the Newton that I have seen.
Well worth the price and something to do while you're in a boring meeting or
on a plane.)

The second version is called Othello for the Newton (Michael Maciang, 24526
Kings View, Laguna Niguel, CA 92656 - $10) Othello for the Newton also uses
the standard grid of 8X8.  It claims to have some artificial intelligence
features that will make the play better as you use the game.  It also allows
you to play on two levels.  The play in this game is indeed a bit more
sophisticated but there is a problem.  The AI or something else in the program
overloads my upgraded 100 so that a fully played game can take more than 40
minutes.  There is a timer showing how long it takes the Newt to make its move
- but that provides little solice.  There is another problem with the program
- it drains memory at a very rapid pace.  I have started with a fully charged
XPACK and run both my primary and XPACK battery out in one game. That is a
great way to clear your battery but not a great way to play a game. The
sophistication on this version is much higher but the aggravation of waiting
for the Newt to move and the battery depletion makes the program less
attractive.



The Barrier

Dan Glazier

The Newton MP 110 is a tremendous tool.  I like most everything about it
except for the screen.  The 110 screen is very east to scratch.  A piece of
dust cuts through the screen like a knife through butter.  This is what makes
the Barrier screen protector a must.

The Barrier is great for several reasons.  Not only does it protect against
scratches, but it also reduces the glare factor as well.  If your Newton has
existing scratches, the Barrier makes them nearly invisible.  A warning,
however, must be announced--be very careful when you lift the Barrier up--the
Newton screen could get scratched if there is a piece of dust underneath.  I
strongly suggest that you place a piece of tape in the corner and overlap it
on the Newton’s casing.  That way you can lift the Barrier straight up if you
have to see under the screen.  I put a major scratch on my screen when I
lifted the Barrier up without the tape at the corner.

It is also very important to keep your screen clean to reduce the risk of any
scratches by dust particles.

I feel that the old Newton’s screen was far better than the MP 110’s.  The
Barrier gives me added confidence that I can be mobile with my Newton without
being concerned about getting a scratch.  We all know that a scratch on our
Newton can really ruin a good day.  So if you are in love with your Newton,
treat it well and get a Barrier.




Message Manager

Mark Underwood

I’m always interested in neat little apps, but sometimes I wonder if they’re
really necessary?  Of course, I try not to be too biased in things--after all,
what I might think is useless, someone else might think is pure gold.

Message Manager is that sort of program.  It’s basically an electronic,
Newton-ized version of those little pink “while you were out” pads you
probably have at work.  You can use it enter phone contacts, and then view
these messages from a sort of “overview”.

Tapping the stylus icon in the lower right shows you the original message as
you entered it.

There’s a button to transfer the contents of the current note to the NotePad,
and vice-versa.  You also have the option to have the Newt redial the person
the message is from.

If you’re the sort that likes to map their real world into the Newton one,
this program will indeed help you to keep up with your messages.  I’m not that
type myself, but then again, I’m suppose to review programs independantly of
my own likes or dislikes.   From that standpoint, Message Manager does what
it’s supposed to.



ScrollEx 2.7

Ashley Barnard-Armstrong

I have always loved software, and been quite a collector.  After I noticed
large amounts of Newton software arriving on the scenes, I knew I had better
hop on.  I was so excited to get a Newton and have shareware to try out on it.
I immediately began loading all kinds of programs (mainly games at first).  I
was very disappointed when I loaded the 31st app into the Newton, and found
out that the Extras drawer would not scroll!   I couldn’t believe it!!  I
thought that Apple should know better, and should know that we would want to
load our Newtons up, just as we have with our Macintoshes!!  Then one day,
ScrollEx (at that time 1.x) came along, and it did just what I wanted.  When
you tapped the down arrow, your Extras drawer scrolled!  Ta da!  I went along
on my merry way.

Until the day when I mailed off my classic Newton to get the surgery to become
a 100.  It came back, and I stuck my full RAM card in.  Uh oh!  No more
scrolling!  Well, finally, Ludovic Durand-Texte, the author of ScrollEx, has
produced an update - 2.7!  ScrollEx 2.7 lets you - Scroll the Extras drawer,
Scroll the Preferences area (if it gets too full), remove packages with a tap,
beam packages, move them between card and internal memory.  It also allows you
to attach applications to the standard screen buttons (Names, Dates,
Extras...).  So your favorite app will launch when you touch Names (the type
not the button).  ScrollEx also fixes the icons alignment problem in the
Extras Drawer (so they all line up, and look better).  For those who have to
be organized, you can now file icons away into different Extras drawer
folders.  This program must be installed in the internal RAM and not a card.

ScrollEx was written and tested under Systems version 1.11 and 1.3 (on the
MP100 and MP110).  Beaming only works on ROM version 1.3 and later, and
beaming and moving packages is limited to the amount of available internal
RAM.  Full documentation is included (as online help and a separate readme).
Shareware, $20.  There is a French commercial version available from the
author (which includes even more features).

Note:  I currently use ScrollEx and NewtCase together.  I’ve found that
without NewtCase, all those programs eat up my heap, and then I’m in big
trouble!!




Tips, Hints, and Secrets

NANUG Members

From Andre Meyer:

One of the problems with the not-yet-existing programmer-friendly debugger in
the NTK is to find the line number when an error message appears.  I have
written the following editor definitions that allow for easy asking for the
line number when in an NTK-editor.  The arrow keys are defined as follows:

Ctrl-LeftArrow and Ctrl-RightArrow
    select current line and display line
    number in status line
Ctrl-UpArrow
    select previous line and display line
    number
Ctrl-DownArrow
    select next line and display line
    number

Known problems: The key codes work on an extended keyboard, maybe they have to
be redefined for other keyboards.  I don’t know how to erase the message when
the line is deselected.

Future:  The original idea was to implement a nice debugger using the
programmable editor. Maybe someone has ideas on how this could be done. Maybe
someone used AppleScript for debugging.

Use at your own risk and enjoy. This is mainly to attract development of
programming tools.

Andre

======include in file named "GlobalData" and put in same folder as NTK======

//selectCurrentLine (ctrl-left/rightArrow)
protoEditor.selectCurrentLine :=
func(off, len)
begin
    local line, n, nplus1;
    line := :FindLine(off);
    n := :LineStart(line);
    nplus1 := :LineStart(line+1);
    :SetSelection(n, nplus1-n);
    :TellUser("Line" &&
    NumberStr(line+1))
end;
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, {key: 123, control: true});
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, 'selectCurrentLine);
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, {key: 124, control: true});
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, 'selectCurrentLine);

// selectPreviousLine (ctrl-upArrow) protoEditor.selectPreviousLine :=
func(off, len)
begin
    local line, n, nplus1;
    line := Max(0, :FindLine(off)-1);
    n := :LineStart(line);
    nplus1 := :LineStart(line+1);
    :SetSelection(n, nplus1-n);
    :TellUser("Line" && NumberStr(line+1))
end;
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, {key: 126, control: true});
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, 'selectPreviousLine);

// selectNextLineselect (ctrl-downArrow) protoEditor.selectNextLine :=
func(off, len)
begin
    local line, n, nplus1;
    line := Min(:FindLine(off)+1,
    :NumberOfLines()-1);
    n := :LineStart(line);
    nplus1 := :LineStart(line+1);
    :SetSelection(n, nplus1-n);
    :TellUser("Line" && NumberStr(line+1))
end;
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, {key: 125, control: true});
AddArraySlot(protoEditor.keys, 'selectNextLine);

From Frank Eck

1. Make up your own forms.  Decide what your form will say on each line.  Then
list in Unfiled notes with a dash (-) front of each line like you would make
any other list.  ie -Name:______________________
When form is completed then Print Note for master copy and save.  Then run off
as many copies as needed.

2. Purchase a PHOTO/AUDIO BAG at K-mart for a handy carrier of  Newton-MP 100
and modem or disks and cards at a low cost of under ten dollars.

It’s shock padded and you can wear on wrist, belt or over shoulder.



NUG News

NANUG User Group Affiliates

ChiILNUG Meeting 11.10.94 7:00PM

TANSTAAFL- R.A.H.  "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch", Robert A.
Heinlein.  Free from Ram Disks, long boot up times, electric wall outlets:
Newton.  And, anyone attending our next meet on 11.10 will recieve a free copy
of TaxPro for the Newton.  Look for our minutes to follow featuring our top
ten shareware with a brief review on each.

The sixth meeting for the Chicago IL Newton Users Group will be held at
McCarthy & Magee, Inc. 9950 West Lawrence Ave., Suite # 200, Schiller Park, IL
60176 VOX 708.671.0444.

The site is one stoplight south of the intersection of routes 190 and Mannheim
road, or the corner of Lawrence and Mannheim.  Our building is the Starlight
Building, the one right on the northeast corner of Mannheim and Lawrence.
Take the elevator to the second floor, our suite is right in front as you exit
the elevator.

Hope you can see us on Thursday November Tenth!  Questions?  Contact Kerry T.
McCarthy at Compuserve 72520,1334, eWorld/Newton Mail/AOL KTMcCarthy, VOX
708.671.0444, FAX [phone], US Mail Kerry T. McCarthy, McCarthy & Magee,
Inc. 9950 West Lawrence Ave., Suite # 200, Schiller Park, IL 60176.



POOR Newton Owners
(Philadelphia Organization Of Responsible Newton Owners)

September Meeting Minutes

A smaller-than-usual crowd appeared at the appointed time and place (a rainy
Wednesday evening in Manyunk) and was treated to an informal discussion with
Hardy Macia (of MPG, AssistCalc, and lots of other software fame) about new
applications and projects.  A screen protector was a door-prize, and all who
needed them got Apple’s $49 System 7.5 upgrade coupons.

Our next meeting will be a lunch-time extravaganza on October 26, 1994 in
Center City Philadelphia (stay tuned to the Net for location and exact time.)
We will share some shareware, review Silverware’s MoreInfo, and trade Newton
tips and lore over sandwiches.

For more information, and to join POOR Newton Owners, contact

Lawrence A. Husick, Esq.
Intellectual Property and Technology
Law and Consulting [e-mail] (NewtonMail - Law.ALF1)
P.O. Box 587, Southeastern, PA  19399-0587 (610/296-8259 Voice)
(610/296-5816 Facsimile)





Want-Ads, Classified, and Cork Board

-•-


M.O.S.A.
The Macintosh Online Society of Atlanta

What is M.O.S.A.?

M.O.S.A. is a organization composed of different Macintosh bulletin boards
systems (BBSes) combined to allow users multiple access to a variety of
resources, software, and tools for one combined low price.  Each system has
its own emphasis/concentration on different aspects of the Macintosh computing
experience, from User Support, to graphics and fonts, to games and
entertainment, to networks and communications.  Each of the BBSes is networked
through a distributed mail echo system that allows each of the boards to
communicate and share information.

History

M.O.S.A. was formed during the summer of 1994 by a group of Mac sysops, here
in the Atlanta metro region, as a collaborative effort to combine resources,
tools and information.  Each of the BBSes were running different host
software, but doing many of the same functions.  By combining their efforts,
these Sysops could save time and effort and gain more information and tools
for their users.  Thus began the conmcept of M.O.S.A.

What does M.O.S.A. mean for me?

By joining the Macintosh Online Society of Atlanta, you gain access to one of
the largest sources of Macintosh information and software libraries in the
state of Georgia.  You will have accounts established on each of the boards in
M.O.S.A., saving you the time of registering on each system, and money versus
having to join each board separately.  Some of the features found on our
boards include :

* Hundreds of megs of PD/Shareware software online

* Internet e-mail and Usenet newsgroups

* Nationwide Fidonet echo message conferences

* Monthly contests and software giveaways

* Several different PD/Shareware CDs online

* Monthly meeting to discuss and instruct on Mac issues

* Monthly online newsletter

* Affilation with registered Apple User Group (OMUG)

* Online and Voice technical support

 Some of the BBSes participating in M.O.S.A. include :

Macintosh Online
(Online Macintosh Users Group)
    [phone]
Cider City (Mac and Apple II)
    [phone]
Grey Area (Tech Support)
    [phone]
Infamous Basement
    [phone]
ArtNet (Graphics/Illustration Support)
    [phone]

To join M.O.S.A.for a year, send $50 to:

MOSA
c/o Online Macintosh Users Group
1716 Terrell Mill Road
Suite Q24
Marietta, GA 30067

M.O.S.A. can also be reached at
[phone].

Through your membership in the Macintosh Online Society of Atlanta, you can
connect to fastest growing online interconnective Macintosh networking system
in Atlanta.

-•-


Dear NewtonMail subscriber:

Recently we announced that existing and new eWorld for Macintosh subscribers
receive a gift of 10 free hours and, for a limited time, that we are waiving
business hours surcharges. As a NewtonMail subscriber, you receive the same
benefits -- you can now call eWorld or NewtonMail anytime from the US and
Canada at the same basic rate.

Since NewtonMail is batch oriented and uses relatively little time on the
system, you might also want to get eWorld for your Macintosh so you can take
full advantage of this offer using your same existing account. Now you can
freely explore the depth and diversity of eWorld.

* To show our appreciation for your early participation, we're giving your
existing account 10 free hours. You can use these hours whenever you like:
this month or next year. The 10 hours kick in as soon as you have used your
two hours included each month.

* We are waiving the $2.95 business hours surcharge between Sept. 18, 1994,
and Feb. 15, 1995.

We've added a lot to eWorld since launch three months ago and we'd like you to
experience our publishers, events, services and new areas. We're proud of the
growth of eWorld.

Tell your friends that beginning today we're extending a similar offer to new
subscribers: the first month is free, with 10 free hours usable that month
only, and we are waiving the $2.95 business hours surcharge between Sept. 18,
1994, and Feb. 15, 1995.

In the coming months you'll see additional improvements and changes in eWorld.
We also have many more exciting events, publishers, forums and services in the
works.

To get your free copy of eWorld for Macintosh, call the eWorld Assistance
Center at 1-800-775-4556. All you need is the eWorld for Macintosh software --
your existing NewtonMail account also gives you access to eWorld.

Please consider visiting eWorld, and thanks for participating in NewtonMail.

Apple Online Services

-•-


ScrollEx 2.7 is here!!

Bummed when you upgraded your Newton to a 100, or bought a 110, and noticed
that you’re old favorite, ScrollEx, didn’t work?

Loaded your 31st app into the Newton, and found out that the Extras drawer
does not scroll?

This app changes all that!!

Features:

* Allows you to scroll the Extras Drawer.
* Allows scrollable Extras Drawer overview.
* Allows a direct access to the remove package function.
* Allows you to move packages to or from the card, and beam packages.
* Allows you to attach applications to the standard screen buttons (Names,
Dates, Extras...).
* Fixes the icons alignment problem in the Extras Drawer.
* Allows filing of icons into different Extras drawer folders.
* Has card changing optimization.

This program must be installed in the internal RAM and not a card.
Written and tested under Systems version 1.11 and 1.3 (on the MP100 and
MP110).
Full documentation is included.

Thanks Ludovic! Shareware, $20. There is a French commercial version available
from the author.

Contact the author, Ludovic Durand-Texte at [e-mail]

You can find it at ftp.amug.org, the mirror of AMUG at radon.sys.uea.ac.uk, on
AOL and on eWorld!

-•-


Would you like to post an ad or other Newton-related classified item in
_protoReality?  If so, please send your ad copy, via e-mail, to:

[e-mail]

with a subject of “NANUG Ads”.  Items will be carried in the current month’s
issue is received before the 15th of the month, otherwise it will be in the
following month’s issue.  NANUG reserves the right to refuse publication if
the content is deemed unsuitable for our audience.

Currently, there is no fee to list an item.  Please limit the size of your
text to no more than two Newton Book Reader sized “pages” (about a single
typed page).  If you want to include graphics, they should be no larger than
3”x 4” (8 x 10 cm).



NANUG Member Bios


Lee Unkrich

Lee Unkrich, though temporarily living in beautiful Marin County, California,
is actually a resident of Los Angeles.  He is a professional film editor,
having studied at the University of Southern California’s infamous film
school.  For several years immediately following his graduation, he edited a
number of television projects, including a season of “Silk Stalkings” for the
USA Network, and an ABC Movie of the Week.  He recently made the leap to
theatrical features, and is currently editing a Disney animated feature which
is being produced by Pixar.

He wishes that he used his MessagePad 110 directly to aid his career, but
alas, at this time there is no nonlinear editing software shipping for the
Newton.

He welcomes any correspondance at:  [e-mail]